Foreigner Gets First Transgender Costa Rican ID

A Venezuelan who has been living in Costa Rica became the first trans foreigner to receive a Tica ID card confirming his self-perceived gender via a new name. He felt discriminated against for years but now has an ID that matches his identity.

Now with the name Jess Márquez, there will be no more problems in banks, medical centers or billing for professional services. When presenting as a man but using an ID that said Jessica, many questions were asked and problems caused.

He was able to change his name on his ID. New IDs do not include gender. It took a year of meetings and procedures but was worth it because now his ID and immigration identity document (DIMEX) will no longer identify him as a woman. The DIMEX does include gender and now lists him as male.

The Director of Migration referred to this as “an important step for our country in protecting the human rights of all the people who live in Costa Rica.”